A brief sketch of the work of Matthew Fontaine Maury during the war, 1861-1865

Maury, Richard L. (Richard Lancelot), 1840-1907Project Gutenberg · United StatesMar 2023

Rating 2.8

Word count: 57K words
Chapters: 6

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.A brief sketch of the work of Matthew Fontaine Maury during the war, 1861-1865Author: Maury, Richard L. (Richard Lancelot), 1840-1907,Language: English, Class: E456: History: America: Civil War period (1861-1865), Release Date: Oct 14, 2010

Editor's review

Written by Richard L. Maury, this short book sketches his father Matthew Fontaine Maury's contributions during the American Civil War. Matthew Maury is known for his work in oceanography and nautical charts; this book focuses instead on his wartime experience, offering a biographical sketch from a family perspective—brief in length and concentrated in narrative. As a Project Gutenberg public-domain e-book, its value lies in providing a close-up, original account with a relative's standpoint, which can be read alongside independent biographies and Civil War historiography. Its strengths are a clear focus and light length, suitable for quickly gaining a basic understanding of Maury's wartime activities. Its limitations are also evident: as a "brief sketch," it does not aim for comprehensive assessment, and its argumentation and sourcing are relatively concise, so readers must fill in the background themselves. As for reading context, it is suitable as supplementary material for the history of oceanography, Civil War history, or biographical research, rather than as the sole basis. This book is the original English edition.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the life of Matthew Fontaine Maury and the history of marine science
History enthusiasts studying scientific and logistical figures of the American Civil War
Researchers and students needing brief original biographical material as supplementary reference
Readers accustomed to English public-domain e-books who can fill in background themselves

Not a good fit for

Advanced researchers seeking a complete critical biography and detailed source verification
Beginning readers with no basic background in either oceanography or the American Civil War
General readers who prefer Chinese translations and systematic narratives

Reading tips

First consult Maury's research on navigation and oceanography, then read this book to understand the origins of his wartime work.
While reading, distinguish the author's standpoint as a relative from objective historical fact, and compare with independent biographies where necessary.
The book is short enough to read in one sitting; afterward, use notes to outline the key points of Maury's wartime activities.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a complete biography of Matthew Maury?

No. The title itself indicates a "brief sketch," focusing only on his work during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. It is short and is not a complete biography covering his whole life, nor does it aim for comprehensive assessment.

What is the relationship between the author and the subject?

The author, Richard L. Maury, is the son of Matthew Fontaine Maury. The book therefore has a family perspective and may contain close observations and standpoints; readers should compare it with independent research.

What background knowledge is needed to read this book?

It is best to first understand the basic outline of the American Civil War and Maury's contributions to oceanography, nautical charts, and wind research. Without this background, the significance of much of the book is easily underestimated.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Maury, Richard L. (Richard Lancelot), 1840-1907 Author · American · 1840–1907

Richard L. Maury (1840–1907) was an American naval officer and writer. He came from the Maury family of Virginia and took part in the American Civil War. Public information about his life is limited, and only one of his works is held in this collection: A Brief Sketch of the Work of Matthew Fontaine Maury During the War, 1861–1865. The book gives a concise account of Matthew Fontaine Maury's work during the Civil War, combining memoir and commemoration with historical and narrative value. Maury's writing is not elaborate; it focuses on tracing his subject's experiences and the historical background in plain language and with a clear thread. Though classified here under inspirational growth, the work is closer to a review of a figure's deeds and may interest readers concerned with the Maury family and figures of the Civil War era.